Chapter9
Amedeo had been thinking about the future all day. The idea that he was going to be someone’s parent was becoming more and more real as time progressed. . Violet would eventually be showing. He’d see an ultrasound that looked like a baby.
He had to stop and catch his breath. Having a child was nothing like running a company or even selling a company. He would have to figure out something new. Not that he wasn’t up for the task, he just couldn’t do as much research as he normally did when he embarked on a new venture.
Running a company was the same no matter what the business was. The models were all the same. Raising a child was a very different prospect. Madge had faith that he could do this and she knew him better than even his mother.
Damn. He still needed to talk to his mother. She wouldn’t want to find out from someone else, but no one in his circle of friends would reveal anything. Most of them didn’t know. He hadn’t been forthcoming with anyone, but Dante and Salvatore and he knew they wouldn’t want to tell his mother.
He sighed. His life was about to get even more complicated.
Then he had a thought. His child would be born out of wedlock. His child would be a bastard. No. He didn’t want that. He would have to marry Violet. Then they could divorce and she would get a settlement from him. They could have a prenuptial agreement. That’s how the paperwork would work out.
She would have to be his wife when she delivered the baby. She could be on his insurance then and he wouldn’t have to pay so much out of pocket. Why didn’t he think of that before?
Madge came in with some papers to sign. “You look triumphant.”
“I just solved a few of my problems.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t want my child to come into this world a bastard.”
She waved her hand. “That doesn’t hold any stigma anymore.”
“It does for me. I’m old-fashioned.”
“So what’s the answer?”
“I’m going to marry Violet. I can put her on my health insurance. We can draw up a prenuptial agreement and then she’ll be set when we divorce.”
Madge looked at him like he had two heads. “So you think this independent woman is going to just up and marry you?”
“Yes. Why not? It makes the most sense.”
“You think a woman wants to get married because it’s practical?” Madge said.
“We’re not in a romance.”
“What are you doing then?”
“I don’t know what you’d call it, but we aren’t in love. Violet will see the benefits of what I’m talking about.”
Madge shook her head. “She’s not going to like it.”
“Well, I think she will.”
Amedeo shook his head. He knew women. If he and Violet were married, her life would be even more secure. “I’m going to ask her.”
“I would pay to be in that room.”
“You can’t. You have work to do.”
Madge left him. Amedeo found Violet in her office. She was intent on whatever she was doing. Her face held a frown. Maybe this wasn’t the time, but he was a man of action. He couldn’t wait to put this plan in motion. It was a good one.
He waited for her to look up.
“Is it lunch already?”
“No. I have a question for you.”
She took a deep breath, then stretched. “Okay. Go ahead.”
“I was thinking about the future and I think it would be a good idea for us to get married.”
“Married? You and me?”
“Yes. I can put you on the health insurance plan. We can draw up a prenup so that when we divorce after the baby comes, you’ll be taken care of. You can consult a lawyer and make sure nothing is amiss. What do you say?”
“You think we should get married so that I have health insurance? Isn’t that health insurance fraud?”
“Not if we’re really married. We’re living together. Who would question it?”
She rubbed a hand down her face. Why wasn’t she more excited? This made perfect sense. “Okay. If not healthcare fraud then why would I want to marry you?”
He stumbled over that. “This isn’t a romantic request, Violet. This is a practical one.”
“Just what a girl wants. Let’s get married so we can be practical together.”
“This isn’t a romance, Violet. We both know this. This thing between us has an end date. You know that. I know that.”
She nodded, her jaw set. She wasn’t happy about this. He didn’t understand it. This would give her more security. Isn’t that what women wanted?
“Then there is no reason for us to get married.”
He sighed. She wasn’t seeing the point. “You get healthcare. You get a settlement when the baby comes.”
“You think I’m in this for the money?”
He stood up straighter. That didn’t sound good and he noted an edge to her voice. What had he said wrong? They weren’t going to be romantic partners. They were great in bed together and she was having his child. That wasn’t enough to base a relationship on. “Uh, no.”
“That’s what it sounds like. You’ve only talked about the money. As if that’s all I’m getting out of this.” She stood, pacing away from him. “Yes, I need you to pay for the doctor visits, but I never asked you to pay for anything else. You volunteered.”
“And I don’t mind that. I have more money than I know how to spend.”
“Right. So you might as well sprinkle the poor girl with it. You know, maybe this whole thing was a mistake. Maybe I should have never let you know that I was pregnant. All I wanted was for you to pay for the abortion.”
Amedeo felt like he’d been slapped in the face as she stormed out past him.
***
Violet didn’t know where she was going, but she had to get out of that room. Amedeo was talking nonsense and not listening to her. She was livid and might have said something she would regret.
So she got out. She didn’t have her purse so she couldn’t go far, but around the block might cool her off enough. She’d been seeing red as he spoke. Was he an idiot or just clueless?
She strode around the block, mumbling to herself. She arrived back at Amedeo’s building, but she wasn’t done being mad. Not in the least. She needed more time. So she walked around the block again. Still mad.
She crossed the street, but she guessed that the combination of not being in a cross walk and the fact that she hadn’t looked both ways, caused a car to clip her. Shit.
She fell down in the street. It wasn’t even the whole car that hit her. Nope. The side mirror and knocked her off of her feet. The person stopped the car and jumped out.
“Are you okay?”
“Uh, I don’t know.”
Her body hurt. She tried to sit up, but her body hurt too much. She could just rest here for a few minutes. Hopefully no one would mind.
“Don’t pass out.” The person had a phone to her ear. “I’m calling 911.”
Violet didn’t think she was going to pass out. She just wasn’t ready to get up yet.
“The ambulance is on the way. Can I call someone for you?”
Violet motioned in the direction she thought the building was. “Amedeo.”
Hadn’t she been mad at him? He might want to know that something happened to her. The woman talked into her phone then she pointed to a person who had walked up. “Go in that building and find Amedeo.”
The woman driver sat down next to Violet.
“What’s your name, honey?”
“Violet,” she whispered. She couldn’t produce much more sound than that. She was tired.
“That’s a pretty name. Does anything hurt?”
“Everything.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you step out between those cars.”
She wanted to tell the woman that it was okay, but at that moment a cop car pulled up. He blocked traffic from where she lay. She really probably should get up. She was in the street and that wasn’t safe.
Then Amedeo’s face appeared in her vision. “Violet? Honey?”
He held her hand. It was warm and a just a little calloused. She hadn’t noticed that before. He should have office hands. Soft and manicured. Why didn’t he?
She wanted to tell him that she was hurt, but he seemed to know that.
“Are you her husband,” the cop asked.
“Boyfriend.” Amedeo turned back to her. “It’s going to be okay, Violet. The ambulance is on the way.”
Of course he would say that. Amedeo always wanted to make it right. That’s who he was. She closed her eyes.
“Violet, stay with us,” Amedeo said.
She wanted to sleep. That’s all she wanted. Maybe the pounding in her head would subside. She couldn’t take anything for it because of the baby. She wouldn’t want to, anyway.
“Violet?”
“I’m here,” she said.
Her voice sounded weak and creaky. Very odd. She heard a siren approach then strangers pushed Amedeo out of the way. They poked and prodded her, then rolled her onto a stiff board. They put her on the stretcher. It rolled past Amedeo.
“I’ll be at the hospital right after you, Violet,” he said.
She smiled, but it must have come off as a grimace because Amedeo said “she’s in a lot of pain.”
He patted her hand before they put her in the ambulance. She closed her eyes when the doors closed.
“You still here, Violet?” someone said.
The voice sounded a little far away so she opened her eyes to see who it was. She couldn’t move her head because she was strapped onto the board. Someone’s face appeared in her line of vision. “We’ll be at the hospital in just a few minutes.”
“Okay.”
“Sit tight. You aren’t bleeding anywhere. What hurts?”
“Everything.”
“You’re bruised, but that may be it.”
Violet tried to nod, but just flashed the man a wan smile. As promised she was at the hospital a few minutes later. They wheeled her into a room and was transferred to a gurney still strapped to the board. It was becoming uncomfortable.
Amedeo appeared at her side. He must have followed the ambulance.
“I’m here, Violet.”
“You’ll have to leave, sir. We need to examine her,” a nurse said.
“Okay. I’ll be right outside.”
She tried to nod again, but instead she just blinked. Hopefully he got the hint. People bustled around her. They took some x-rays then they unstrapped her from the board.
“No signs of spinal or neck injury so we can take you off of this.”
She was happy to be free and tried to sit up.
“No, Violet. Let me raise the bed a little. The doctor will be in to examine you.”
“Amedeo.”
“The man is right outside. He refused to wait in the waiting room. He’s very concerned about you,” the nurse said.
“Yes,” was all Violet managed.
She’d bet that Amedeo was giving everyone who walked out of the room an interrogation. He wouldn’t take easily to being out of control. He’d want answers and action. That was Amedeo.
Finally the doctor came in. He examined her. “I think you have a slight concussion. Your husband said that you were pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“There’s no bleeding so the baby is fine. I’ll have them do an ultrasound just in case. Okay?”
“Fine.”
That was what mattered.
“I’ll need you to stay in bed for a few days.”
Crap. Bed rest again. She’d go out of her mind, but right now it sounded good. “Okay.”
“Good.” The doctor raised the bed up a little so she could sit up. “The nurse will bring you some paperwork to sign and I’ll let your husband in.”
He wasn’t her husband, but she wasn’t going to argue. Her head hurt too much.
***
Amedeo strode into Violet’s room. The doctor had finally come out and told him that she was fine. The baby was fine and that Violet would need to rest for a few days. It was Friday so he could be home with her for the next two days.
She looked so small and ashy sitting in that hospital bed. She was bruised and battered and he’d made her mad enough to walk out. He must make this up to her. No two ways about it.
“Hi,” he said.
He took her hand. Her eyes were half-mast and she looked like she could fall asleep.
“Hi.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired and achy.”
“I’m sure that will pass.”
“I hope so,” she said.
“I can take you home as soon as the papers get signed,’ he said.
“You going back to work?”
“No, it’s Friday. I’ll knock off for the week. You won’t have to go home alone.”
“Thanks,” she said.
It was the least he could do for her. He’d made her so upset that she walked in front of a moving car. He thought the plan was still solid, but obviously she didn’t. They’d have to talk about it.
A nurse bustled in. “Okay. The doc thinks you have a slight concussion. He wants you to rest for the next few days. It may take longer for the headache to go away. As soon as that is gone, you can drive and go back to work. Until then take it easy. Bed rest for two days. Rest until the headache is gone.”
“Okay,” Violet said.
“She’ll do what you say. I’ll make sure of it,” Amedeo said.
The nurse smiled at him. “Good. Now sign here and we can let you loose in your husband’s capable hands.”
He decided not to correct her misconception that he was Violet’s husband. It didn’t matter in his situation. He would take care of her and that is all that mattered.
Violet signed the papers then sat up slowly, her legs over the side of the bed. The nurse had left. Amedeo sat on the bed next to her. “Take your time, Violet. We’ve got all day.”
“My head hurts.”
“I know, but you can’t take anything for it.”
“I know. I can’t really sleep much either.”
“How’s your vision?” he said.
“Fine. I’ll just watch some more movies,” Violet said.
“We’ll watch them together.”
He couldn’t remember the last time he watched a movie the whole way through. Certainly never on a Friday afternoon. He didn’t know how long he would be able to sit there, but he’d try. He needed to make this up to Violet.
She was carrying his baby for goodness’ sake. The least he could do was dote on her for a few days while she recovered.
“Okay,” she said without a lot of enthusiasm.
He held out his hand. “You ready?”
“I think so.”
He stood and helped her to her feet. She stood for a minute, taking in a few breaths. With his help, she walked to the car. He’d texted his driver to be at the door so she didn’t have to walk far. He settled her in the back next to him and they drove home.
She leaned on him the whole trip.
He felt guilty about upsetting her, but he didn’t seem to want to talk. He helped her up the steps when they arrived at his house. Once she was settled into bed, he changed e his clothing then snuggled next to her.
He was supposed to make sure she was okay if she fell asleep. Would he have the heart to wake her up? He didn’t know, but he was given strict instructions.
“Do you need anything before the movie starts?”
“I think I need some lunch.”
“I’ll make us some sandwiches.”
He went to the kitchen then returned with food for both of them. Violet ate slowly, taking careful bites. She must really be in pain.
“Violet?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry that I upset you. My plan seemed obvious to me, but I guess you weren’t in favor of it. The offer to marry you still stands, but I won’t insist,” he said.
Her gaze took a minute to travel up to his face. “Okay. Thanks, I guess.”
“We don’t need to talk about it now, but if you want to we can.”
“I don’t want to marry you, Amedeo. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He wasn’t hurt by her words, but they did take him back a little. Maybe he was jaded from so many gold diggers on his doorstep. Violet wasn’t like that. She wanted to stand on her own, but could admit, at least a little bit, when she needed help.
He cleared away the plates.
“If you change your mind, let me know. I want to make sure that you and this baby are taken care of.”
“I get that. I just don’t agree how it should be done.”
“Then come up with a plan.”
“Not sure I can do that at this moment.”
“I’m sorry. Not right now. I get it. Your head hurts. We don’t have to talk about this now,” he said.
He shifted on the bed, propping a pillow behind him. They could just watch the movie and not talk. That would be better. He wouldn’t say something stupid then.
“Thanks, Amedeo. I know you mean well. I overreacted.”
“No, you didn’t. It was what you felt. That’s always genuine.”
She nodded then winced. “Ouch.”
“Oh, honey. Don’t do that. Let’s watch a movie.”
He turned on the television while Violet settled on the bed. He’d watch over her today. He guessed this was kind of like being a parent, but Violet wouldn’t be as needy as a baby would be. He sighed, marveling at how much his life had changed in a short time.
*
Amedeo had made her get into bed the moment they came home from the hospital. He was heating up some soup for her since she didn’t have lunch. She should be flattered. She should probably sit back and enjoy all of this attention, but this wasn’t her life. This wouldn’t be her life when the baby arrived.
She didn’t want to get used to it. She didn’t want to be spoiled. A yawn stopped her thoughts. She did feel tired, but she was hungrier than anything.
“Here’s your soup.”
Violet sat up. “Thanks.”
He put a tray on her lap.
“Can I eat this downstairs?” she said.
“The doctor said bed rest for two days. You aren’t getting up.”
“I’m going to be climbing the walls. Can you bring me my laptop? That way I can try to get some work done.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, shaking his head. “No, Violet. I need you to rest. Besides, it’s Saturday. I’m not even working.”
“Don’t you have things to do?”
“I have laundry and I can do yours.”
“You do your own laundry?”
He laughed. “Yes I do. I don’t pay people to do everything. I find doing laundry therapeutic.”
She smiled. “Okay. I have some dirty clothing.”
“Then I’ll wash it. Then what do you want to do?”
“You don’t have to entertain me.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m not leaving you alone today. I have somewhere to be tomorrow, but today I’m all yours.”
That sounded wonderful. She’d have his attention, but she couldn’t get used to it. He was here because of the baby. That was it. It wasn’t affection for her. She ate her soup as he sorted the laundry. He left her then came back with a deck of cards. He cleared her empty bowl then sat on the edge of the bed “Cards?”
“I’m not a big card player.”
“Me either. I’ve only used them to play strip poker, but I don’t think that’s appropriate today.”
He was being a gentleman. She’d never let a man treat her like less ever again. In that sense, this was good to be around Amedeo. She’d miss it all when she was gone. She sighed.
“What’s wrong?” he said. “Does your head still hurt?”
“It does, but it’s a low throbbing. I’m okay, really. Let’s play cards.”
“You sure? You want to nap? You yawned before.”
“I guess I could nap, but you’ll have to wake me at some point?”
He nodded. “The discharge papers said to wake you after an hour of sleep.”
“Then maybe I don’t want to sleep. That would be annoying.”
“Up to you, Violet.”
He shuffled the cards. “I don’t have any other games, but I do have some on my tablet.”
“No, thanks. It hurts to look at a screen. I haven’t even looked at my phone because it hurts my eyes,” she said.
She couldn’t look at a screen, but she’d hoped to get some work done. Maybe tomorrow. Amedeo had been right to refuse to get her laptop. She’d make her headache worse.
“And you wanted your laptop?”
“I know,” she said, then groaned. “I was trying to be optimistic, but one glance at my phone and I knew I couldn’t stare at a screen all day. Not even sure I want to watch television.”
“Then cards it is.”
He climbed over her to lean against the headboard. She crossed her legs. He lounged as he shuffled the cards. “I only know poker.”
“I can play poker. What will we bet with?”
“I have pretzels.”
“That’ll do.”
He bounced off the bed and she cringed from the pain. “I’m sorry, Violet. I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s okay.”
He didn’t do it on purpose. She knew that. It hurt just the same.
“I’ll go get the pretzels.”
He came back with a bag of pretzel sticks.
“You’re going to have to change your sheets before bed tonight.”
“It’s fine, Violet. I’m doing laundry anyway,” he said.
“I’m making more work for you.”
He waved his hand. “Stop. It’s fine. I should probably change the sheets anyway.”
She frowned, but let it drop. He shuffled the cards some more then dealt them. “Aces are high. Deuces are wild.”
“What is each pretzel worth?”
“Does it really matter?”
She laughed. “No, I guess not.”
She eyed her cards, thinking they were pretty good. A game of strip poker would be fun, but she wasn’t up for sex at the moment. She wished she were. A whole day of lounging in bed with a naked Amedeo sounded pretty good. Another day. She’d bet he’d be up for it.
The played for an hour and she won every hand.
“I’m glad we didn’t play for money. You might own my house and my car by now. Where did you learn to play?”
“Juvy.”
“Yikes.”
“It was a tough crowd. They played for cigarettes and sexual favors.”
“Wow. I forget that your upbringing was so different from mine.”
“Night and day, I’m sure,” she said.
“I had my father in my life.”
“How old were you when he died?”
“I was eight.”
He didn’t make eye contact with her. It must still hurt him. “You really cared about him.”
“He was my idol. We’d come here because of his job and I ended up staying even after he died. It was a blow to all of us when he was gone. Salvatore especially, since he was the youngest.”
“I can’t even imagine what my life would be like if I’d known my father. I might have known more about men than I did.”
“A father should teach his daughter what men are about,” Amedeo said.
“It’s a big responsibility and women where I grew up never took it seriously. They never cared if the father was around. As if they didn’t mean anything,” Violet said.
That was a damned shame, but at least her child would have his father.
***
On Sunday, Amedeo met Dante for a beer in the afternoon. He’d been going a little stir crazy, but he hadn’t wanted to leave Violet. She insisted he go out because he was driving her crazy.
Just like an old married couple. Shit. That wasn’t good. This was temporary. Until the baby came. He had to remember that. Right now he couldn’t think of anything else but the baby. The idea that he was going to be a father had really hit him this week.
“You look concerned,” Dante said.
The two men hugged. “Hey, bro. Good to see you.”
“I figured this might be the last time I get out before Gwen has this baby.”
“Bet she’s ready.”
“Yeah, she’s uncomfortable and ready to have this done with,” Dante said.
“You excited?”
“I am. Not sure what to expect of being a father, but hey, I can handle it.”
“That’s more optimistic than I feel.”
“Oh?” Dante said.
He sipped his beer, shifting to look at his brother.
“Yeah. I’ve never really taken care of another human being. You took care of us when Dad died, but I never did anything like that.”
“I didn’t do much caretaking. I just kept you boys in line a little. It was all Mom.”
“I know.”
“Have you told her yet?”
Amedeo frowned. Why had he been putting that off? His mother wouldn’t be mad. She loved her boys and as much as she wanted them to marry nice Italian girls, she wouldn’t judge them if they didn’t. Dante had certainly paved the way by marrying Gwen.
“No, I haven’t. I guess it wasn’t real to me until this week.”
“It’s harder for us guys. We aren’t going through the changes. Seeing that baby for the first time on the ultrasound is amazing.”
“Violet had the early one, but it doesn’t look like much.”
“The next one you’ll be able to tell more and what sex the baby is.”
Amedeo wanted to look forward to that, but he was too concerned about his ability or inability to take care of another human being. “I’ve never doubted myself in anything I’ve done. Until now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Am I really capable of taking care of a baby?”
“I think it’s a little late to be worried about that. This baby is on its way and you have no choice. You wouldn’t want to abandon the child now.”
Dante was right. Amedeo couldn’t see doing that, but he wasn’t sure if he was just scared or lazy. He’d never considered himself lazy. “No, but am I doing the right thing by wanting to raise it? What the Hell do I know about taking care of someone? Especially someone as needy as a baby.”
“Suck it up, Bro. That’s the situation. You can’t change it. The only way would be to go against how we were raised. Mama would have something to say about that. How does Violet feel?”
Amedeo shrugged. “I think she’s okay with it.”
“You haven’t talked?”
“Not heart-to-heart about this.”
“You need to. You both need to be in the same place on this. You are both the parents and you have to agree on how this child will be raised.”
“You and Gwen have done that?”
“Yes. Long before she got pregnant. I had to know that she had my back and she had to know that I had hers.”
“That’s pretty complicated for Violet and I. We aren’t married. We aren’t two people in love. We are just two people having a baby together.”
“You still need to talk about it. Probably even more than a married couple would. You aren’t going to be living in the same house. You are going to be sharing custody and the child will need consistency.”
What Dante said made sense. He would have to broach things with Violet. They needed to be on the same page. In the same place about how to raise a child. His brother was right. Amedeo would have to initiate this talk. Violet probably hadn’t thought about it.
“I hadn’t thought of it that way. I’m glad I talked to you. At least if we’re discussing this I’ll feel like I’m doing something.”
“Planning is your forte so use that.”
Amedeo nodded. “I asked her to marry me so that Violet would be on my insurance plan. I’ve had a prenup drawn up, but Violet isn’t keen on marrying me.”
“That’s really her choice. In this day and age, not every couple gets married when the woman gets pregnant. I’d bet she’s pretty independent.”
“She is. Sometimes painfully so.”
“Something you have to work around.”
Amedeo nodded, thinking about how he would broach the subject with Violet. They did need to clear the air. He wasn’t worried about it, he just hoped they had similar values. He wanted his child to go to private schools. There were several in the Princeton area. Maybe that was getting ahead of himself.
“I don’t even know where Violet is going to live after the baby’s born.”
“You want to know that.”
“I guess I’ve been worried about some intangibles when I can deal with the tangibles.”
Dante slapped his back. “It’s okay, Amedeo. I went through some moments of terror. It’s normal, but you have to get through it.”
Amedeo had a lot to think about. There were logistics of raising a child that he could deal with. Might make him feel better about not being sure he can be a father. Never in his life had he set off in a direction that he wasn’t sure of. This insecurity was knocking him off his game.
Of course he could raise a child. It wasn’t easy, but neither was building up a company. And if he could sell this one in the next few years, he’d have more time to be with his child.
Hmm. Maybe he’d take a year off and spend it all with his baby.
***
Violet woke from her nap, feeling better. The pounding in her head was much lighter so she went downstairs for her laptop. Yes, Amedeo would be mad that she got out of bed, but she wasn’t a child. She felt okay and her strength was back. She didn’t want to watch any more movies and she needed to do something to stimulate her brain.
Hacking. She liked to keep her skills up and hack into something just to see if she could. She targeted a company, but she had no idea what they did. Besides, it was the weekend. No one would be there to see and she could back out without leaving a trace.
She knew if she worked on Amedeo’s project he’d be mad. She could technically say she was just playing.
He wasn’t due back until dinner time so she had an hour.
She settled herself back into bed when her phone rang. Kalia.
“Hey girl,” she said.
Kalia laughed. “I know we just saw each other, but I’m missing you this weekend.”
“I wish you could come over. I’m bored on bed rest.”
“What happened?”
“I was hit by a car. Not badly, but Amedeo is being a mother hen.”
“I looked him up on the internet. Girl, he’s one ‘hawt’ dude.”
Violet laughed. Yes, he is. “Why’d you look him up?”
“I was bored.”
“You need a man.”
“No, I need a vibrator. Less hassle than a man,” Kalia said.
Her friend was probably right. “You know what Amedeo wanted? He asked me to marry him. Prenup and all.”
“Marriage? No way? You should jump at it. It can’t be hard to see that man naked.”
Life wasn’t ever as simple as Kalia thought it was. “I can’t marry him, Kalia. I want to be in love when I marry.”
“You old-fashioned?”
“Yes, I guess I am. Not that old-fashioned since I’m having a baby out of wedlock.”
Kalia snorted. “Details. You free this week?”
“I’m sure I can be free.”
“Let me know what day works for you.”
“Okay. I’ll call you Tuesday when I’m back to work. I’ll know what my schedule it. I wish you could see this house. It’s as big as our whole apartment building, I swear.”
“You can’t have a home girl over?”
“Not sure. It’s still Amedeo’s house. I’d feel odd inviting anyone here.”
“Fair enough. Talk to you later.”
Violet went back to her task at hand. She targeted a business then let her fingers dance over the keyboard. This one had pretty good security. She had to be careful. They might be able to find her.
“What are you doing?”
Amedeo stood in the doorway. He had his arms crossed.
“Just having fun. No worries.”
At least she hoped not. She stared at the screen as Amedeo stared at her. “Did you have a nice nap?”
“Yes and now I need to work my brain. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be off.”
“You sure you should be on the computer?”
“I’m fine. If my head hurts more I’ll get off.”
“What are you doing?”
“Hacking into a site.”
He frowned. “Be careful.”
“Hacking is what I do for a living. I know what I’m doing.”
But he’d distracted her and she wasn’t being careful. If he’d stayed away she would have had her full attention on her task. Instead, she must have gone somewhere she didn’t understand. A warning came up and she backed out of the site.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re distracting me. That’s what’s wrong,” she said.
“I just wanted to see if you’re okay. I think there are some things we need to talk about.”
She looked up at him over her computer. She was backing out of the site, but not doing it with any finesse. Hopefully she wasn’t leaving a trail. She didn’t want this person to find her because she had a feeling there was some illegal activity going on. She didn’t like what she’d seen.
After backing out of the site, she closed her laptop. “What things do we need to talk about?”
Was he kicking her out? Who had he gone to see? Had they convinced him that she was just a gold digger? She wasn’t. If he’d given her abortion money, she would have never seen him again.
“Don’t be scared. I think we need to talk about the baby and how we are going to parent this child.”
“Do I need to make a decision about custody right now?”
Her head had begun to hurt again and she wasn’t sure she could think straight right now. That’s what she got for going on the computer.
“No, but you need to think about it. We need to have a plan for raising this child. We need to know that we agree on how to parent this child,” he said.
He’d come to sit on the edge of the bed. She looked at him as if he had two heads. “The birth is months away.”
“Then we’ll have months to sort this out if we don’t agree on things. You know I’m flexible about custody, but there are other things I find important.”
“Like what?”
“I want my child to go to a local private school. That may mean that you live near here. I know you’ve already uprooted your life, but I want you to think about making your permanent residence closet to me.”
She frowned. She hadn’t thought about where she would live, which was odd for her. She could be planning if it was necessary. Then again, her plans had never turned out. Why should she make them?
She shrugged. “Okay. I’m going to have to figure out what I can afford.”
“I’m assuming the child will be in daycare at some point. We’ll have to pick that together. Which means you’ll have to have a clear idea of where you’ll be living.”
She rubbed a hand down her face. “If you want to have this conversation, you need to feed me.”
He laughed. “Okay I’ll make dinner.”
“Thanks. Then I promise we’ll talk about this stuff. Meanwhile I’ll think about it.”
“We need to think about discipline and bottle feeding and what kind of diapers,” he said.
“There’s a whole lot do to with baby raising.”
He nodded, brushing a hair out of her face. “There is and I couldn’t ask for hotter baby mama.”
She just laughed as he walked out.